Stent graft device with anchoring members having adjustable geometries

Abstract

A stent graft device that includes a frame, a cover material covering the frame, and an anchoring member having an adjustable geometry is provided. The anchoring member may be incorporated as part of the frame or coupled thereto. The anchoring member may be formed of a material having a tensile strength such that it can be bent, straightened, or otherwise changed in shape. Tissue growth over and/or around the anchoring member anchors the stent graft device within a lumen. During removal of the stent graft device, the geometry of the anchoring member changes to allow the anchoring member to be removed from the tissue growth along a removal path with minimal trauma. The design and/or shape of the anchoring member is not particularly limited so long as the anchoring member has an adjustable geometry that permits tissue overgrowth and subsequent removal from the tissue overgrowth with minimal trauma.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stent graft device comprising:
 an expandable frame configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration; 
 a covering extending over said expandable frame; and 
 an anchoring member coupled to said expandable frame by a plurality of coupling members positioned on the exterior surface of said expandable frame and configured to extend along a length of said expandable frame in both the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration, the anchoring member being configured to adopt a shape when the expandable frame is in the expanded configuration, the shape defining a removal path, 
 wherein said shape which said anchoring member adopts includes at least one of a serpentine or a cork-screw configuration that forms raised portions that extend outwardly and angularly from the expandable frame between successive coupling members and wherein said anchoring member is configured to be removed along the removal path while the expandable frame is in the expanded configuration with minimal trauma to any tissue growth over said anchoring member, wherein the anchoring member and the removal path are positioned entirely exterior of the covering. 
 
     
     
       2. The stent graft device of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue growth over said anchoring member anchors said stent graft device in a lumen. 
     
     
       3. The stent graft device of  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring member is configured to be removed from the expandable frame while the expandable frame is in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
       4. The stent graft device of  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring member is a wire. 
     
     
       5. The stent graft device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring member is removable upon application of a longitudinal force to the anchoring member. 
     
     
       6. The stent graft device of  claim 1 , wherein the raised portions of the serpentine or the cork-screw configuration are spaced away from an outer surface of the expandable frame. 
     
     
       7. A stent graft device comprising:
 an expandable frame; 
 a covering extending over said expandable frame; and 
 an anchoring member coupled to said expandable frame by a plurality of coupling members positioned on the exterior surface of said expandable frame and configured to extend along a length of said expandable frame when said expandable frame is in an implanted state, said anchoring member being configured to adopt a shape when said expandable frame is in the implanted state, wherein the adopted shape defines a removal path of said anchoring member, 
 wherein said shape which said anchoring member adopts includes at least one of a serpentine or a cork-screw configuration that forms raised portions that extend outwardly and angularly from the expandable frame between successive coupling members and wherein said anchoring member is adapted for removal from said expandable frame along said removal path, wherein the anchoring member and the removal path are positioned entirely exterior of the covering. 
 
     
     
       8. The stent graft device of  claim 7 , wherein tissue growth over said anchoring member anchors said stent in a lumen. 
     
     
       9. The stent graft device of  claim 8  wherein removal of said anchoring member is atraumatic. 
     
     
       10. The stent graft device of  claim 7 , wherein said anchoring member is a wire. 
     
     
       11. A stent graft device comprising:
 an expandable support frame having incorporated therein an anchoring member coupled to an exterior surface of said expandable frame by a plurality of coupling members positioned on the exterior surface of said expandable frame, the anchor member configured to adopt a shape when the expandable support frame is in an expanded configuration to anchor said stent graft device in a lumen, the shape defining a removal path; and 
 a covering extending over said expandable support frame, 
 said anchoring member being removable along said removal path, wherein said anchoring member is configured such that a geometry of said anchoring member is adapted to include at least one of a serpentine or a cork-screw configuration that forms raised portions that extend outwardly and angularly from the expandable frame between successive coupling members and to change to facilitate said removal of said anchoring member and from tissue growth over said anchoring member, wherein the anchoring member and the removal path are positioned entirely exterior of the covering. 
 
     
     
       12. The stent graft device of  claim 11 , wherein said tissue growth anchors said stent graft in a lumen. 
     
     
       13. The stent graft device of  claim 11 , wherein said anchoring member is a wire. 
     
     
       14. The stent graft device of  claim 11 , wherein said anchoring member is configured to be removed from the expandable frame while the expandable frame is in the expanded configuration.